Railands & Chester Station Gateway

This £11 million project will regenerate Chester station and its surroundings to create a key gateway into the city and enhance other historically important buildings along Brook Street and City Road. The programme will improve the travelling experience for bus and rail passengers and increase retail and commercial activity in the areas around the station.

The project is being delivered by the Gateway Partnership which includes:

• Arriva Trains Wales
• Cheshire West & Chester Council
• Merseyrail
• Merseytravel
• Network Rail
• North West Development Agency
• Railway Heritage Trust
• Virgin Trains
• Visit Chester & Cheshire

What the Project will Achieve

• Improved environment
• Retail and commercial space
• Better facilities for passengers
• Improved traffic flow
• Conservation and enhancement of grade II* listed station building
• Increased investment and development opportunities in the area
• Vacant and derelict areas brought back into use

What’s Happening and When

Phase 1 of regeneration is complete and includes;

• Station roof repairs of glazing and improvements to the train shed were carried out by Network rail.
• Repairs to the station façade have now been completed on the West and East Wings of the frontage building façade, along with ground work repairs of the East Wing. An architectural lightening scheme has also been installed for safety improvement and architectural highlight and took place in 2008.
• Improved customer facilities and a new station concourse were completed by Arriva Trains Wales in October 2008 including refurbished toilets, a café and a CCTV system.
• The Station Square was completed in December 2007 for eased management of traffic in the area and an improved setting of the station and surrounding buildings with the use of high quality heritage materials.

Phase 2 includes 3 interrelated projects that are to begin the next phase of works beginning in 2009:

• The Island Platform Scheme is to introduce a new pavilion with a waiting area, passenger toilets and refreshing kiosk. A second staircase will also take form and be delivered by NWDA and National Stations Improvement Programme in October 2009.
• Network Rail is to begin work in February 2010 on Platform 7 repairs that extend the length of the West pavilion building and will involve structural works and replacement of broken pavement.
• Phase 2 will also tackle the historic over bridge and arcade structures that link the Island and the concourse planned for 2009-2010.
• Target buildings and their external frontage structures in Brooke Street, along with street furniture and footpaths have received funding through the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) to improve and enhance the shop fronts along the access to the Railway Station for increased use. This work has already began will continue through to 2010.